The Lion King Crowned Britain's Favourite Musical

Almost one in five Brits (18%) voted for the stage spectacular as their number one, according to the research, conducted by Marella Cruises, TUI’s cruise line. Mamma Mia! (16%) and Grease (15%) followed, with The Sound of Music (11%), Wicked (10%) and Matilda (10%) also featuring prominently.

Why the Lion King reigns supreme

The Disney classic is not just the most loved but the most seen: a quarter of Brits (25%) said they had watched Simba and company perform live on stage. Its blend of spectacle, singalong songs and family appeal has kept it selling out theatres for more than two decades, a longevity that even the biggest names in British entertainment struggle to match.

Its record is staggering. The production has clocked up well over 10,000 performances in London alone since it opened, and remains a fixture on must-see lists for tourists and families. That staying power helps explain why it edged out newer crowd-pleasers: while shows come and go, the story of Simba’s journey from cub to king has become a rite of passage for a generation of theatre-goers.

A nation of secret show-tune singers

The survey paints a picture of Britain as a country quietly obsessed with musical theatre. More than one in five (22%) belt out soundtracks in the shower, while 23% admit playing the same cast recording on repeat for weeks. When it comes to songs, however, ABBA steals the limelight: Dancing Queen (14%) topped the list, followed by Mamma Mia, Circle of Life and We Will Rock You, all tied on 13%.

Far from a niche pursuit, musical theatre has clearly woven itself into everyday British life, soundtracking commutes, chores and quiet nights in. Yet most remain occasional theatre-goers – nearly a quarter (23%) attend less than once a year, and just 7% manage a show every month. Given the chance to work in the industry, 15% would go behind the scenes, 14% dream of becoming a West End leading performer and another 14% would happily join an entertainment cast at sea.

From the West End to the high seas

That enduring affection is exactly what inspired Marella Cruises, the survey’s organiser, to launch Musical Med-leys, its first-ever sailing dedicated entirely to the world of musicals. Passengers will be able to catch performances of well-loved numbers at sea, a fitting nod to a nation that treats cast recordings as everyday listening. Whether you are a monthly stalls regular or a committed shower soprano, the message from the poll is clear: Britain’s love affair with the musical is as loud as ever, spanning generations and genres alike – and The Lion King is still the one everyone wants to sing.